Public Services International passes Palestine resolution

30 November 2012

Following their press release calling on Israel and Hamas to accept the truce over recent violence as proposed by the Secretary-General of the UN, the Public Services International (PSI) has passed, at its World Congress (27-30 November 2012) in South Africa, a resolution to fully support the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel campaign.

PSI is one of the largest global trade union federations, representing 20 million workers who deliver vital public services in 150 countries. Australian unions affiliated to the PSI federation are the Australian Services Union (ASU); Communications, Electrical & Plumbing Union (CEPU); Community & Public Sector Union – PSU Group (CPSU-PSU); Community & Public Sector Union – SPSF Group (CPSU-SPSF); and the New South Wales Nurses & Midwives Assocation (NSWNMA).

The resolution was proposed by the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU), with support from their comrades in the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU).> Read the SAMWU press release> Read the NEHAWU press release

The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) has applauded the PSI Congress decision as a “major victory”. Rafeef Ziadah, of the Palestinian Trade Union Coalition for BDS (PTUC-BDS), commented from Brazil where she received news of the PSI resolution: “We welcome today’s resolution and look forward to working with the PSI as well as its local South African members, SAMWU and NEHAWU, in advancing the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel campaign within trade unions. Israel must be isolated, like apartheid South Africa was, until it ends its violence against the Palestinian people, abides to international law and ends its apartheid policies.”